Last updated at 11:01, Saturday, 06 February 2010

Good to see David Dimbleby stepping out of the Question Time studio. Good to see too that he knows precisely when to do it.

In all honesty only he could have breathed such illuminating life into Seven Ages of Britain (BBC1) – produced in partnership with the Open University.

A trawl through the nation’s greatest treasures, this seven-week museum piece could have been as dry and dusty as Miss Havisham’s dining room in less safe hands.

But thanks to the natural intensity of Dimbleby’s interest – twice he even seemed excited – part one never descended into schoolroom doldrums.

All kicked off with him re-creating the moment workmen dug up a bronze bust of Hadrian from the Thames and continued with him wandering over the mosaic floors of a Roman villa.

All very hands-on. This bodes well. It’s intriguing, entertaining and David Dimbleby’s fascination is infectious.

Perhaps he should do us all a favour and get out more.

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 06 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk